Apparatus for packaging fluid products



ep 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,148,759

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRODUCTS Filed May 24, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RICHARD a STANLEY EARL BRINKLEY ALBERT F. RH\NO ATTYS.

p 15, 1954 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,143,759

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRODUCTS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, v1962 Y L w m W R L\ mA V,

5 am M N T LR W RE MAB 3 L m l ATTYS.

Sept. 15, 1954 R. B. STANLEY ETAL ,148,759

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRODUCTS Filed May 24, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I: 75 INVENTORS 8? 1 2 26 RICHARD B. STANLEY 2* EARL BRINKLEY 11 ALBERT F. RH|NO 2 2 511 85 BY h A/Mlm/ ATTYS.

Sept. 15, 1964 Filed May 24, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY EARL BRINKLEY ALBERT F.RH\NO BY M flJ/Ah ATTYS.

p 1954 R. B. STANLEY ETAL- 3,148,759

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRODUCTS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 24, 1962 INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY EARL BRlNKLEY ALBERT ammo MMMZM ATTYS.

p 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRODUCTS Filed May 24, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet e VENTORS RICHAR NLEY ARL B KLEY BERT F. RHINO ATTYS p 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL. 3,143,759

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRODUCTS Filed May 24, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I50, 1% 4;1 I \4-8 7 J I .l' U i llii I I] m l H53: l5l

I34 INVENTORS RICHARD H. STANLEY EARL BRINKLEY ALBERT F. RH\NO ATTYS.

United States Patent O 3,148,759 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID PRQDUCTS Richard B. Stanley, Park Ridge, Earl Brinkley, Mount Prospect, and Albert F. Rhino, Palatine, 111., assignors to The Kartridg Pal: (30., Davenport, Iowa, :1 corporation of Iowa Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,835 19 Claims. (Cl. 19822) This invention relates to the packaging of aerosol products and is more particularly concerned with improvements in apparatus for handling aerosol containers during the filling and closing thereof.

Machines have heretofore been developed for production of aerosol products which utilize a rotary table having a plurality of operating stations about the periphery thereof, each of which is equipped with devices for delivering to a succession of containers an aerosol product and/ or a propellant and thereafter sealing the containers, the rotary table being arranged along one side of a main conveyor with transfer mechanism for feeding empty containers to the rotary table and for delivering the filled and sealed containers back to the main conveyor. However, the previous apparatus of this type has not been readily adjustable so as to accommodate containers of different size and it is a principal object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a rotary-type apparatus for packaging aerosol products in which provision is made for quickly adjusting the mechanism so as to adapt the same for handling containers of diiferent size.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide in an aerosol filling and/ or sealing apparatus of the type which comprises a rotary table combined with a main conveyor in which successive containers are delivered from the main conveyor to the rotary table and returned to the main conveyor following filling and sealing operations which are carried out while the containers are on the rotary table with the container handling mechanisms constructed so that they may be quickly adjusted to accommodate containers of different sizes with a minimum of operations and without requiring any replacement of parts or the use of any special tools.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the type described a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis, a con veyor for deliver ng containers along a path adjacent the turntable, a transfer mechanism disposed between the conveyor and the turntable for advancing and guiding containers between the conveyor and the turntable with the transfer mechanism including a rotatably mounted container transfer Wheel and a pair of guideway defining devices which provide oppositely disposed guide surfaces and having movable sections adapted to be positioned so as to vary the width of the guideway in order to accommodate containers of different diameters together with readily adjustable dial-like locking elements for holding the movable guide sections in selected positions of adjustment.

it is a further object of the invention to provide in an apparatus for handling cylindrical containers, for aerosol products or the like wherein a turntable is disposed at one side of a main conveyor and the containers are transferred from the main conveyor along a curved path to peripherally spaced work stations on the turntable and returned along a curved path to the main conveyor after traversing a circular path on the turntable, a transfer mechanism comprising a transfer plate extending between the main conveyor and the turntable, a pair of rotating starwheels mounted above the transfer plate on parallel, vertical axes spaced along the main conveyor,

a center guide device disposed between the starwheels with curved infeed and outfeed guide surfaces along which the containers are moved by the starwheels so as to guide the containers between the main conveyor and the turntable, and a side guide device disposed generally tangential to the turntable and adjacent the infeed starwheel having a curved guide surface for cooperation with the infeed guide surface of the center guide device to define the path of the containers as they are moved onto the turntable by the starwheel and with the guide devices each having a movable section adjacent the container infeed pathway and readily adjustable elements for holding said movable sections in predetermined positions so as to guide containers of different diameters into a common path on the turntable for pick up by container positioning buttons thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a container handling apparatus of the type described a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis and having a peripheral flange forming an upwardly facing ledge for receiving a container support ing ring member which is mounted thereon for rotation about the axis of the turntable, the ring member having an upstanding abutment forming button adapted to position a container at a work station thereon which is located in predetermined position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable, and a dial-like device for locking the ring member in selected positions on said turntable so as to accommodate containers of differentsize while maintaining the work station in the same position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of the type described a turntable mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on a stationary base and having container supporting stations, a vertically disposed post at each station for supporting a filling and/ or closing head, which posts are mounted for vertical reciprocation and which have a cam roller on the lower end thereof, a cylindrical cam mounted in screw threaded engagement on a peripheral cam supporting surface on the base with a track for receiving the cam rollers on the posts so as to control the vertical movement of the posts and means for locking the cylindrical cam in selected positions on the base which is releasable so as to permit the cylindrical cam to travel with the posts whereby the cylindrical cam may be rotated relative to the cam supporting surface by rotation of the turntable so as to vary the elevation of said posts.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein: I

. -FIGURE 1 is a top plan view with portions omitted or broken away, or a conveyor and turntable arrangement in an aerosol production packaging apparatus which incorporates the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1 to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, to an enlarged scale;

. FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the container transfer the line 3-3 of FIG- 'me chanism;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG- URE 7 but showing another position of the mechanism;

sealing aerosol containers.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary elevation, the view being taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of the turntable in FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 1212 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 1 to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE is a fragmentary section taken on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the ring earn, the view being taken on the line lie-16 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 17 is a cross section taken on the line 1717 of FIGURE 2 to an enlarged scale.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, there is illustrated a portion of the top run of a conveyor and a turntable assembly forming part of a production line for filling and The turntable assembly 10 is arranged at one side of the main conveyor 11 with a container transfer mechanism 12 interposed between the turntable and the conveyor for feeding successive containers C from the straight line conveyor to the turntable and for returning the containers to the conveyor after they have traversed a circular path while subject to filling and for closing operations on the turntable.

The transfer mechanism 12 comprises an infeed section 13 for delivering the containers C from the main conveyor 11 to the turntable 10, on which the containers are transported while each container is filled, sealed or otherwise processed, and an outfeed section 14 for transferring the filled and sealed containers from the turntable 10 back to the main line conveyor 11. The conveyor 11 moves continuously and the turntable 10 rotates continuously in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor so that there is a continuous flow of the containers C with the turntable 1t) forming a rotary link between the transfer infeed and outfeed sections 13 and 14 which lead up to and away from the generally circular path of the rotary link 10. An aerosol packaging machine of this type which employs a rotary turntable with filling and sealing heads for filling and sealing aerosol containers is disclosed in copending applicationSerial No. 75,414, filed December 12, 1960.

The conveyor 11 comprises a single endless table toptype link chain 15 with a pair of guide rails 16 being disposed in flanking relation along the same at the infeed section 13 of the transfer mechanism 12 and a like pair of guide rails 17 being similarly disposed along the conveyor at the outfeed section 14 of the transfer mechanism 12. The guide rails 16 and 17 are carried on laterally adjustable mounting posts 18 which are slidable on mounting blocks 20 to accommodate adjustment in the spacing of the rails in conformity with the size of the containers C that are being handled. Preferably the section of the inner guide rail 16 which adjoins the infeed section 13 of the transfer mechanism is mounted on spring loaded posts (not shown).

The turntable assembly 10 is supported for rotation about a vertical axis on a base 21 and includes a horizontally disposed peripheral shelf forming ring member 22 hereinafter referred to as a dial plate, located some distance below the top forming portion of the assembly 10, and carrying a set of container locating buttons 23 which define operating stations on the dial plate 22. Each operating station is located adjacent a vertically disposed post assembly 24 mounted on the turntable 19 and on which a filler head 25 or other mechanism for operating on the container is supported. The container locating buttons 23 are adapted to be disposed on the dial plate 22 so as to define a mounting niche for receiving and accurately locating the container that is to be processed at the particular operating station. The locating buttons 23 each serve also to pick up successive containers as they are delivered onto the dial plate 22 by the infeed section 13 of the transfer mechanism 12 and to move the containers with the dial plate when the containers are not clamped in position by operation of the filler head 25.

The dial plate 22 is disposed with its top surface at the same elevation as the top surface of the main conveyor 11 and a transfer plate 26 bridges the space between the path of the dial plate 22 and the main conveyor 11, forming part of the transfer mechanism 12. The transfer plate 26 forms the top surface of an outboard support bracket 28 carried on the base 21. Infeed and outfeed starwheels 30 and 31, respectively, are carried on spindles 32 and 33 which are journaled in the support bracket 28. The bracket 28 supports a center guide structure 34 arranged above the transfer plate 26 midway between the starwheels so as to define crescent shaped infeed and outfeed guide surfaces 35 and 36 forming with the starwheels 3t) and 31 a path for transfer of the containers between the conveyor and turntable. The bracket 28 also supports above the transfer plate 26 a tangent guide rail structure 37 adjacent the starwheel 30 at the infeed to the turntable for assisting the starwheel in accurately delivering the containers to the proper position for pick up by an oncoming container positioning button 23 on the dial plate 22. Another tangent guide rail 38 is supported on the bracket 28 adjacent the outfeed starwheel 31 for maintaining the container in proper position on the turntable for pick up by the starwheel 31.

Adjacent the infeed section 13 of the transfer mechanism 12 there is provided along the outside edge of the conveyor 14 a variable pitch worm screw type container accelerating mechanism 49 which cooperates with the conveyor 11 and the transfer section 13. The acceleration mechanism 40 is mounted on a support column or post 41 extending as part of the outer margin of the sup port bracket 28. The container accelerating mechanism 49 is disposed along the outer edge of the conveyor chain 15 in position for receiving containers in the consolidated relationship in which they are advancing along the conveyor 11 and separating the containers so as to deliver the containers to the infeed section 13 individually and in predetermined timed relationship to the rotation of the infeed starwheel 3% for transfer to the dial plate 22 on the turntable 10. The starwheel 3% is synchronized with the turntable 16 so that the containers are delivered to to the successive operating stations in properly timed relationship.

The container accelerating mechanism 40 comprises a feed worm element 43 (FIGURES 1, 4, 5 and 6) having its one end journaled in a bearing 4 The bearing 44 at the trailing end of the worm 43 is mounted for axial sliding movement in one end of a generally semi-cylindrical protective shell or housing 45 which partially encloses the worm element 43 and its drive connections. A thumb screw 47 is provided for securing the bearing 44 in position. The other end of the worm 43 is mounted in a connector block 46 which is in turn mounted on the end .of a horizontally disposed shaft 48 extending from a right angled gear box 50 and in axial alignment with the bearing 44 at the other end of the worm 43. The connector block 46 carries on the end facing the worm 43 a ring gear 51 having internal teeth which mesh with the teeth on a pinion gear 52 which is secured on the shaft end '53 of the Worm 43 so as to form an adjustable telescoping coupling which connects the drive shaft 48 to the worm 43 so as to provide for adjustment of the rotational position of the worm 43 with respect to the drive shaft 4%. The adjustment is accomplished merely by temporarily loosening the thumb screw 47, sliding the worm 43 toward the trailing end of the mounting shell to disengage the pinion 52 and gear 51 after which the Worm 43 is rotated through a circular path. The horizontally disposed shaft 43 which extends from the right angled gear box is connected by miter gears 54 with a vertical drive spindle 55 journaled in support post 41. This arrangement affords a vernier timing adjustment for insuring smooth container handling permitting each container C to be supplied to the starwheel 319 so that the container and the main point of the starwheel that engages the container is moving at approximately the same speed. The time of arrival of the container at the starwheel location may be accurately regulated by adjustment of the worm element 43. The side guide 16 opposite the worm 43 may be adjusted laterally to accommodate containers of different diameter so that one size worm element 43 may be employed in the handling of containers within a predetermined range of diameters.

The transfer mechanism 12 is adjustable to accommodate containers of different diameters so as to accurately position the containers on the dial plate 22 for advance around the turntable by engagement thereof with the driving buttons 23. Two adjustments are provided in the transfer mechanism 12 to adapt the same to containers of different size, one adjustment being in the center guide structure 34 and the other adjustment being in the tangern tial guide 37.

The guide structure 34 comprises a main section or member 6!) which is secured in fixed relation to the transfer plate 26 and an inner guide structure which is formed in two parts 61 and 62 as indicated in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8, with the one part s1 being adjustable while the other part 62 constitutes a fixed extension or wing of the main part pivotally mounted on the innermost one of the two upstanding posts as and 64 which connect the main guide member 69 to the transfer plate 26. The movable guide member 61 is adjustably connected to the fixed guide member 62 through a dial forming member 65 which is in the form of a small disc and which has a depending pivot forming pin 66 adapted to seat in a vertically disposed bore 56' in the one guide member 62. The dial member 65 is provided with four vertically disposed holes or bores which are arranged at different radial distances from the axis of the pivot pin 65 and which are labeled so as to indicate the diameter of the container for which the guide 1 The tangential guide member 37 is adjusted as-shown in FIGURES 7 to 9. The guide member 37 comprises a fixed part or member which is attached by means of the bolt 76 to the transfer plate 26 and extends above the top surface of the same. A container engaging, adjustable guide member 77 is connected to the fixed member 75 through a dowel pin 73 having its opposite ends seated in the pocket forming bores 81) and 81 in the two guide members 75 and 77, respectively. The adjustment of the two guide members 75 and 77 is accomplished through a dial arrangement which comprises the adjusting disc or dial member 82 having a pivot pin 33 which is slidably mounted in a pocket forming bore 84 in the fixed member 75. The dial member 82 is provided with four vertically disposed bores 85, 86, 87 and 83 which are located at different radial distances from the vertical axis of the pivot pin 83 and which are adapted to receive selectively the top portion of a vertically disposed pin 91 fixed in the inner, movable guide member '77 so that the dial member 82 may be raised sufficiently to clear the pin 91? and rotated about its pivot pin 83 to the proper position for engaging the pin 90 in the desired hole to position the movable guide member 77 as required for the size container which is being handled in the machine. The movable The part "1 of this center guide structure is' guide member 77 is adjusted on the pin 78 to bring it into proper relationship relative to the adjustable center guide member 61 to guide the successive containers onto the dial plate 22 with their vertical axes in a vertical plane passing through the vertical axis of the heads 25.

When the size container delivered to the dial plate 22 is changed, the container locating pins 23 must be repositioned relative to the filling head 25 to properly align the container beneath the heads by circumferential movement or adjustment of the dial plate 22 on the turntable 19. The dial plate 22 is adjustably mounted on the hous ing 91 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 10 to 13) which forms the rotatable member of the turntable 10. The turntable housing 91 which supports the vertical post assemblies 24 is carried on a bearing forming hub portion 92 upstanding in the center of the top member 93 of the base 21 and is provided with a ring gear 94, driven by a pinion 95 on the upper end of a vertically disposed driven shaft 96 which is journaled in the base member 93 and carries a sprocket 97 which is connected by driven chain 98 with a sprocket 1% on an output shaft of a motor and gear assembly 101 suitably supported on the base 21. A sprocket 102 carried on the lower end of the shaft 96 is connected by chain 193 with sprockets 11M and 105 on the bottom ends of the drive shafts 32 and 33 for the starwheels 39 and 31. A sprocket 106 on the bottom end of the shaft 32 is connected by drive chain 197 with a sprocket 108 on the bottom end of the shaft 55 for the worm assembly 43, so that all the mechanisms are driven from the same motor drive unit 101.

The dial plate 22 is supported on a shelf 110 which is provided on the turntable housing 91 by a peripheral external flange 111 which projects in the radial direction from the outside vertical wall of the housing. Provision is made for locking the dial plate 22 at selected positions on the shelf 11% so as to locate the container positioning buttons 23 at the proper positions relative to the vertical axis of the operating heads 25 to center the containers beneath the heads and to adjust the position of the buttons 23 when the container size is changed. This is accomplished by means of an adjusting disc or dial member 112 (FIGURES 10 to 13) which has a center pin 113 with an extended portion 114 adapted to be received in a bore 115 in the dial plate 22, the bore 115 being located a predetermined distance from the container engaging button 23. The dial member 112 is provided with a pin 116 mounted in parallel axial relation with the pivot pin 113 and spaced radially therefrom. The pin 116 is adapted to seat in one of four vertical holes or bores 117, 118, 119 and 12% arranged in unevenly spaced, circumferential relation around the pivot socket 115 in the dial plate 22. These bores 117, 118, 119 and 126 have their vertical axes in a circle which is concentric with the bore 115 for the pivot pin 113. Another series of four holes is provided in the flange member 111, these holes being indicated at 121, 122, 123 and 124 and their arrangement differs from the arrangement of theholes 117, 118, 119 and 1219 in the dial plate 22. The holes 121, 122, 123 and 124 are arranged so that each one may be aligned with one of the holes 117, 118, 119, 120, the arrangement being such that insertion of the dial pin 116 in an aligned pair of holes locks the dial plate 22 to the flange 111 in the required position to space each button 23 the proper distance from the axis of its associated head 25 to center a container which is being handled on the dial plate 22 with its axis aligned with the axis of a head 25. All that is required to secure the proper adjustment of the dial plate 22 is for the operator to lift the dial member 112 a sufficient distance to Withdraw the pin 116 from the pair of holes in which it is seated and rotate the dial member 112 about its pivot 113 to bring the pin 116 to the proper. hole in the dial plate 22, after which the dial plate 22 is moved relative to the flange 111 to allow-the pin 116 to drop into the hole in the flange 111 with which it can be aligned. As shown in FIGURE .12, the holes 115 and 117 in the dial plate 22 have their vertical axes in a common plane which does not coincide with the vertical plane extending through the axis of the table so as to relieve the shearing stress on the pin 116.

The post assemblies 24 (FIGURE 2) which control the movement of the heads 25 so as to engage and disengage the containers C positioned beneath the heads on the dial plate 22 are mounted in the turntable housing 91 for vertical reciprocating movement in vertically spaced bearing sleeves 125. Each assembly 24 comprises a main post member 126 which carries at its bottom end a cross pin 127 having a guide roller 128 on the outer end thereof which travels in a vertical, inwardly opening track 139 provided in a depending lower skirt forming portion 131 on the turntable housing member 91 to hold the post 126 against axial rotation and insure linear movement in a vertical direction while traveling with the turntable housing 91. A cam roller 132 is carried on the other end oi the pin 127 which travels in a cam track 133 in the outer face of a ring or barrel cam 134 (FIGURES 2, and 14 any The barrel cam 134 has an internal thread .23 which engages with an external thread 136 on the base member 93 so that when the barrel cam 134 is initially assembled onto the base 21 it may be screwed onto the top of the base member 93 and thereafter it may be adjusted by relative rotation on the base member 93 to vary the elevation of the head 25 and thereby adapt the apparatus to containers of different height. The cam 134 is normally locked in position on the base member 93 by mechanism which comprises a block member 137 (FIGURES 14 and 15) which is slirlably mounted in a radially extending pocket forming recess 138 in the base member 93 and which carries a locking tooth or rib 139 adapted to engage in a vertically extending slot 141 in the inner face of the barrel cam 134 and which is urged into engagement with the cam by a spring 141 preferably the Bellevue Washer type. An operating arm 142 is pivoted at 143 in the bottom portion 144 of the recess 133 and has a vertically extending pin 145 in the end thereof which is received in a vertically extending socket 146 in the block member 137. This arrangement permits the operator to release or unlock the barrel cam 134 by lifting upwardly on the outer end of the operating lever arm 142 so as to force the locking block 137 into the recess 138 and withdraw the locking tooth 140 from cam engaging, operative position, which leaves the cam 134 free to rotate relative to the base member 3. The cam 13% is slotted at 147 (F1 URES 2, l6 and 17) and a filler block 148 is fastened in the slot 147 which carries a spring pressed button extending into the cam track 134 The button 15% is urged into extended position by a spring 151, preferably of the Bellevue Washer type, which will normally be compressed by movement of the cam roller 132 over the button 156 when the barrel cam 134 is locked to the base member 93. However, when the barrel cam 13 i is released or unlocked so that it is free to rotate about the external surface of the base member 93, the button 150 will be held in extended position by the Bellevue type spring 151 and the cam roller 132 will not depress the same but will carry the barrel cam 134 with it as it rotates with the turntable member 91. The spring 151 is seated at one end in a pocket 152 in the block 148 and at the other end in an axially aligned pocket 153 in a screw-in cap member 154, the cap being apertured to accommodate the end of the stem 155 carrying the button 151) so that the tension in the spring 151 may be adjusted by rotation of the cap member 154. This arrangement enables the position of the barrel cam 134 to be adjusted relative to the supporting base member 93 by operating the motor unit 1M, to drive the turntable so as to raise or lower the barrel cam 154. All that is required of the operator to adjust the height of the post assemblies 2 1 is to release the cam 134 by operating the lever 142 and then causing the turntable to rotate in the desired direction so as to turn the cam 134 on the base member 93 to the proper elevation.

In adjusting the apparatus for accommodating a container of a different diameter, the dial 112 is raised to lift the pin 116 out of the bores in the shelf 111 and the dial plate 22 in which it is seated, the dial is then rotated to drop the pin 116 into the bore in the dial plate which is marked for the new size container and the dial plate 22 is rotated on the turntable member 91 until the pin drops into the proper bore in the shelf 111 which looks the dial plate in proper position or the container positioning button to pick up a container at the transfer station so that the container will be centered beneath the head 25. The two movable members on the center and side guide devices 34 and 37 are adjusted by lifting the dial members and 82 so as to release the movable guide members 61 and 77. The dial member 65 is pivoted about the pin es and the guide member 61 is pivoted to engage the pin 67 in the hole which is labeled for the new size container. In like manner, the movable guide member 77 is adjusted to the proper position relative to the fixed guide member 76 for insertion of the pin 94) in the hole in the dial member which is labeled for the new size container. This adjusts the transfer members except for the timing of the starwheels with the rotation of the turntable which may be readily accomplished through the drive connections. The container accelerating mechanism 40 is also adjusted to synchronize with the starwheel speed for delivery of the containers in proper order for pick up by the starwheels. With this arrangement the apparatus may be very quickly adjusted to accommodate containers of diiferent diameters without changing the position of the filling and closing head 25, the latter being operated by vertical reciprocation dial plate 22 where it is picked up by an oncoming positioning button.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cylindrical container handling apparatus wherein the containers are transferred along a curved path to peripherally spaced work stations on a traveling turntable arranged at one side of a main conveyor and returned along a curved path to the main conveyor after traversing a circular path on the turntable, a transfer mechanism comprising a pair of rotating starwheels mounted on parallel, vertical axes spaced along the main conveyor between the main conveyor and the turntable, a center guide device disposed between the starwheels and extending laterally of the main conveyor which provides curved infeed and outfced paths on opposite sides thereof along which the containers are moved by the starwheels so as to guide the containers between the main conveyor and the turntable, container positioning buttons at each work station on the turntable, an outer guide device disposed generally tangential to the turntable adjacent the infeed starwheel and presenting a curved guide surface for cooperation with the center guide device to define the path of the containers as they are moved relative to the turntable by the starwheel, said guide devices each having a movable member adjacent the container pathway and readily adjustable means for holding said movable members in predetermined positions of adjustment relative to a circular path on the turntable so as to permit containers of different diameters to be delivered to the turntable for pick up by the positioning buttons and advance along said circular path.

2. In a cylindrical container handling apparatus wherein the containers are transferred along a curved path to peripherally spaced work stations on a traveling turntable arranged at one side of a main conveyor and returned along a curved path to the main conveyor after traversing a circular path on the turntable, a transfer mechanism comprising a pair of rotating starwheels mounted on parallel, vertical axes spaced along the main conveyor between the main conveyor and the turntable, a center guide device disposed between the starwheels and extending laterally of the main conveyor which provides curved infeed and outfeed paths on opposite sides thereof along which the containers are moved by the starwheels so as to guide the containers between the main conveyor and the turntable, container positioning buttons at each work station on the turntable, an outer guide device disposed generally tangential to the turntable adjacent the infeed starwheel and presenting a curved guide surface for cooperation with the center guide device to define the path of the containers as they are moved onto the turntable by the starwheel, said guide devices each having a movable section adjacent the container path which is adapted to be positioned in predetermined relation to said path, and adjustable locking means for holding said movable members in predetermined adjusted positions relative to said path so as to guide successive containers into a common circular path on the turntable for pick up by the positioning buttons and advance by said table in said circular path.

3. In an apparatus for filling and closing cylindrical containers wherein successive containers are transferred from a straight line traveling conveyor to peripherally spaced work stations on a traveling turntable arranged at one side of said straight line conveyor and returned to the conveyor after they are carried around the turntable, a transfer mechanism comprising a pair of rotating starwheels mounted on parallel, vertical axes spaced along the conveyor between the conveyor and the turntable, a center guide device disposed between the starwheels and extending laterally of the conveyor which provides curved surfaces defining infeed and outfeed paths along which the containers are advanced by the starwheels so as to guide thecontainers during transfer between the conveyor and the turntable, container positioning buttons at each work station on the turntable, a side guide device disposed generally tangential to the turntable adjacent the infeed starwheel and presenting a curved guide surface for cooperation with the center guide device and the positioning buttons to confine the containers to a predetermined path as they are advanced onto the turntable by the starwheel, said center and side guide devices having movable guide sections disposed on opposite sides of the container pathway and means for adjustably locking said movable guide sections in predetermined positions relative to the container pathway so as to guide the containers into alignment on the turntable and to adapt the apparatus for handling containers of different diameters.

4. In an apparatus as recited in claim 3, and the movable section of said center guide device being pivotally mounted relative to a fixed section thereof, a dial member having a vertical sliding pivotal connection with one of said center guide sections, a vertical pin projecting above the other one of said center guide sections and a series of spaced bores in the dial member for selectively receiving the pin so as to lock said movable section in predetermined positions of adjustment.

5. In an apparatus as recited in claim 3, and the movable section of said side guide device being slidably connected to a fixed section thereof, a dial member having a vertical sliding pivotal connection with one of said side guide sections, a vertical pin projecting above the other one of said side guide sections, and a series of spaced bores in the dial member for selectively receiving the pin so as to lock said movable section in predetermined positions of adjustment.

6. In an apparatus for handling cylindrical containers wherein a turntable is disposed at one side of a main conveyor and the containers are transferred from the main conveyor along a curved path to peripherally spaced work stations on the turntable and returned along a curved path to the main conveyor after traversing a circular path on the turntable, a transfer mechanism comprising a transfer plate between the main conveyor and the turntable, a pair of rotating starwheels mounted above the transfer plate on parallel, vertical axes spaced along the main conveyor, a center guide device disposed between the starwheels 10 and providing laterally extending, curved infeed and outfecd guide surfaces along which the containers are moved by the starwheels so as to guide the containers between the main conveyor and the turntable, container positioning buttons adjustably mounted at each work station on the turntable, a side guide device disposed generally tangential to the turntable and adjacent the infeed starwheel and presenting a curved guide surface for cooperation with the infeed guide surface of the center guide device to define the path of the containers as they are moved relative to the turntable by the starwheel, said guide devices each having a movable section adjacent the container infeed path andreadily adjustable means for holding said movable sections in predetermined positions so as to guide successive containers into a common path on the turntable for pick up by the container positioning buttons and thereby to adapt the apparatus for handling containers of different diameters.

7. In an apparatus as recited in claim 6, and said container positioning buttons being mounted on a container supporting ring member which is mounted for circumferential adjustment on the turntable.

8. In an apparatus for handling cylindrical containers wherein a turntable is disposed at one side of a main conveyor and the containers aretransferred from the main conveyor along a curved path to work stations spaced equidistant radially and peripherally on the turntable and returned along a curved path to the main conveyor after traversing a circular path on the turntable, a transfer mechanism comprising a transfer plate between the main conveyor and the turntable, a pair of rotating starwheels mounted above the transfer plate on parallel, vertical axes which are spaced along the main conveyor, a center guide device disposed between the starwheels and providing curved infeed and outfeed guide surfaces along which the containers are moved by the starwheels so as to guide the containers between the main conveyor and the turntable, container positioning buttons mounted at each work station on the turntable, a guide device disposed generally tangential to the turntable adjacent the infeed starwheel and presenting a curved guide'surface for cooperation with the infeed guide surface of the center guide device to define the path of the containers as they are moved relative to the turntable by the starwheel, said guide devices having movable sections in opposed relation along the container infeed path and readily adjustable means for holding said movable sections in predetermined positions so as to vary the width of the path to accommodate containers of different diameters and to guide the containers onto the turntable and into a common vertical plane in which the work stations are located for pick up and peripheral positioning on the turntable by the container positioning buttons, whereby to adapt the apparatus for transferring containers of different diameters to the work stations on the turntable.

9. In apparatus for transporting cylindrical containers, a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis, a conveyor for delivering containers along a path adjacent the turntable, a transfer mechanism disposed between the conveyor and the turntable for advancing and guiding containers between the conveyor and the turntable, said transfer mechanism comprising a transfer plate, a rotatably mounted container transfer wheel mounted on the transfer plate, a pair of guideway defining devices which provide oppositely disposed cooperating guide surfaces mounted on the transfer plate adjacent the transfer wheel for guiding containers advanced by said transfer wheel, said guideway devices having movable portions adapted to be positioned so as to vary the width of the guideway in order to accommodate containers of different diameters, and readily adjustable locking elements for holding said movable portions in selected'positions of adjustment.

10. In apparatus for transporting cylindrical containers, a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis, a conveyor for delivering containers along a straight line path adjacent the turntable, a transfer mechanism disposed between the conveyor and the turntable for advancing and guiding containers from the conveyor to the turntable, said transfer mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted container transfer wheel and a pair of guideway defining devices disposed adjacent the transfer wheel for cooperation therewith, said devices having movable portions which provide oppositely disposed guide surfaces and which are adapted to be adjusted so as to vary the width of the guideway in order to accommodate containers of different diameters, and readily adjustable locking elements each having a pivotal connection with a stationary portion of a guideway defining device and a series of spaced holes for receiving a pin on the movable portion of the guideway device for holding said movable portions in selected positions of adjustment.

11. In apparatus for transporting cylindrical containers, a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis, a conveyor for delivering containers along a straight line path adjacent the turntable and an accelerating device for moving successive containers from a compact line into spaced relation, a transfer mechanism disposed between the conveyor and the turntable for advancing and guiding the spaced containers between the conveyor and the turntable, said transfer mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted container transfer Wheel and a pair of guideway defining devices for cooperation with said transfer Wheel which guideway devices have movable portions providing oppositely disposed guide sur faces, said movable portions being adapted to be posttioned so as to vary the width of the guideway in order to accommodate containers of different diameters, and readily adjustable locking elements for holding said movable portions in selected positions of adjustment.

12. In a container handling apparatus comprising a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis, a peripheral flange on said turntable forming an upwardly facing ledge for receiving a container supporting ring member which is mounted on said flange for rotation about the axis of the turntable, said ring member having an upstanding abutment forming button adapted to position a container at a work station thereon which is located in predetermined position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable, and means to lock said ring member in selected positions on said turntable so as to accommodate containers of different size while maintaining the work station in the same position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable.

13. In a container handling apparatus comprising a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about a vertical axis, a peripheral flange on said turntable forming an. upwardly facing ledge for receiving a container supporting ring member which is mounted on said flange for rotation about the axis of the turntable, said ring member having an upstanding abutment forming button adapted to position a container at a work station thereon which is located in predetermined position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable, and means to anchor said ring member in selected positions on said flange so as to accommodate containers of different size While maintaining the work station in the same position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable.

14. In a container handling apparatus comprising a turntable mounted on a stationary base for rotation about" a vertical axis, a peripheral flange on said turntable forming an upwardly facing ledge for receiving a container supporting ring member which is mounted on said flange for rotation about the axis of the turntable, said ring member having an upstanding abutment forming button adapted to position a container at a work station thereon which is located in predetermined position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable, said ring member having a series of holes extending therethrough, said flange having a series of holes arranged relative to the holes in 12 the ring member so that pairs of the holes will align at different positions of the ring member, a locking dial member having a sliding pivotal connection with the ring member on an axis equidistant from and parallel with the axes of the holes in the ring member, and said dial member having a pin which is adapted to drop into a pair of aligned holes in the ring member and flange so as to lock said ring member in selected positions on said turntable and thereby accommodate containers of different size While maintaining the work station in the same position relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable.

15. In an apparatus for transporting containers in a circular path while performing operations thereon at one or more peripherally spaced work stations which comprises a turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis on a stationary base, means forming a container supporting work station on the turntable, a vertically dis posed post at said work station for supporting a work head, said post being mounted for vertical movement in the turntable and having a cam roller thereon, a cylindrical cam mounted in screw threaded engagement on a cam supporting surface on said base and having a cam track for receiving said cam roller so as to control the vertical movement of said post, releasable means for locking the cylindrical cam in selected positions on said cam supporting surface, means for rotating the turntable in either direction, and a spring pressed button in said cam track for engaging with said cam roller so as to cause the cylindrical cam to turn on the base when the means for locking said cylindrical cam on the base has been released and the turntable is rotated whereby to permit the cylindrical cam to be adjusted so as to vary the elevation of said post.

16. In an apparatus for transporting containers in a circular path while performing operations thereon at peripherally spaced work stations which comprises a turntable mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on a stationary upstanding base, means forming container supporting work stations on the turntable, a vertically disposed post at each work station for supporting a work head, said posts being mounted for vertical reciprocation on the turntable and having cam rollers thereon, a cylindrical cam mounted in screw threaded engagement on a peripheral cam supporting surface on said base and having a track for receiving the cam rollers on the posts so as to control the vertical movement of the posts, re-

leasable means for locking the cylindrical cam in selected positions on the base, means for rotating the turntable in either direction, and means for causing the cylindrical cam to travel with the posts when the means for locking said cylindrical cam on the base has been released whereby to permit the cylindrical cam to be rotated relative to the cam supporting surface so as to vary the elevation of said posts.

17, In an apparatus for transporting containers in a circular path while performing operations thereon at peripherally spaced work stations which comprises a turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis on a stationary upstanding cylindrical base, means forming a plurality of container supporting work stations on the turntable, a vertically disposed post at each work station for supporting a work head, each of said posts being mounted for vertical sliding movement in the turntable and having a cam roller on the lower end thereof, a cylindrical cam mounted in screw threaded engagement on an outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical base and having a cam track for receiving the cam rollers so as to control the vertical movement of said posts as the turntable rotates, releasable means for locking the cylindrical cam in selected positions on the base, means for rotating the turntable in either direction, and means for causing the cylindrical cam to travel with the turntable when said locking means has been released whereby to permit the vertical position of the cylindrical cam to be adjusted so as to vary the elevation of said posts.

18. In an apparatus for transporting containers in a circular path while performing operations thereon at one or more work stations which comprises a turntable supported for rotation about a vertical axis on a stationary base, means forming a container supporting work station on the turntable, a vertically disposed post at said work station for supporting a work head, said post being mounted for vertical sliding movement in the turntable and having a cam roller on the lower end thereof, a cylindrical cam mounted in screw threaded engagement on a cam supporting surface on said base and having a cam track for receiving the cam roller so as to control the vertical movement of said post, releasable means for locking the cylindrical cam in selected positions on said supporting surface, means for rotating the turntable in either direction, and means for causing the cylindrical cam to turn with the turntable when said locking means has been released whereby to permit the cylindrical cam to be adjusted so as to vary the elevation of said post.

19. In a machine for transferring cylindrical containers from a traveling conveyor having a horizontal run on which the containers are advanced in consolidated relationship, a driven starwheel for moving containers in a lateral direction relative to the conveyor run, a container accelerating apparatus disposed along one side of the conveyor for advancing successive containers into position for pick up by the starwheel which accelerating apparatus comprises an elongate variable pitch Worm el ment, a housing partially enclosing said worm element and extending along said one side of said conveyor, said worm element having one end thereof rotatably mounted in a bearing member which is axially slidable in one end of said housing, a driven operating shaft for said Worm element mounted in a bearing member fixed in the other end of said housing in axial alignment with the worm element, a connecting member secured on said driven shaft and supporting the other end of said Worm element in axially sliding relation relative to the end of said driven shaft, and interfitting ring and pinion gears secured on adjacent ends of the worm element and the connecting memher on said operating shaft, whereby the timing of the worm element may be changed so as to synchronize with the rotation of the starwheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,711,850 Stimpson June 28, 1955 

1. IN A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS WHEREIN THE CONTAINERS ARE TRANSFERRED ALONG A CURVED PATH TO PERIPHERALLY SPACED WORK STATIONS ON A TRAVELING TURNTABLE ARRANGED AT ONE SIDE OF A MAIN CONVEYOR AND RETURNED ALONG A CURVED PATH TO THE MAIN CONVEYOR AFTER TRAVERSING A CIRCULAR PATH ON THE TURNTABLE, A TRANSFER MECHANISM COMPRISING A PAIR OF ROTATING STARWHEELS MOUNTED ON PARALLEL, VERTICAL AXES SPACED ALONG THE MAIN CONVEYOR BETWEEN THE MAIN CONVEYOR AND THE TURNTABLE, A CENTER GUIDE DEVICE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE STARWHEELS AND EXTENDING LATERALLY OF THE MAIN CONVEYOR WHICH PROVIDES CURVED INFEED AND OUTFEED PATHS ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF ALONG WHICH THE CONTAINERS BETWEEN THE MAIN CONVEYOR AND THE TURNTABLE, CONTAINER POSITIONING BUTTONS AT EACH WORK STATION ON THE TURNTABLE, AN OUTER GUIDE DEVICE DISPOSED GENERALLY TANGENTIAL TO THE TURNTABLE ADJACENT THE INFECTED STARWHEEL AND PRESENTING A CURVED GUIDE SURFACE FOR COOPERATION WITH THE CENTER GUIDE DEVICE TO DEFINE THE PATH OF THE CONTAINERS AS THEY ARE MOVED RELATIVE TO THE TURNTABLE BY THE STARWHEEL, SAID GUIDE DEVICES EACH HAVING A MOVABLE MEMBER ADJACENT THE CONTAINER PATHWAY AND READILY ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID MOVABLE MEMBERS IN PREDETERMINED POSITION OF ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE TO A CIRCULAR PATH ON THE TURNTABLE SO AS TO PERMIT CONTAINERS OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE TURNTABLE FOR PICK UP BY THE POSITIONING BUTTONS AND ADVANCE ALONG SAID CIRCULAR PATH. 